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Most artists I know have side gigs or their art is their side gig. This includes people known in puppetry circles. It's the way of the world. The trick is making peace with that life is always going to have to be somewhat of a hustle. It also keeps one sharp and humble. The artists who can miraculously bypass this are often neither of those things.
Trust you gut and have good friends for bad days.
OMG! So true. I'm a hot minute from going to HR about a coworker who's just angry and slamming things around all the time. None of it's about me, but I have such a chipper attitude (particularly in the morning...I know, I'm one of those) and go out of my way to make customers feel great that he often gets prickly and gives me the stink eye. I feel like his hostage the entire time I'm there. It's living in Deadwood! Dude always apologizes, but I've seen him give similar apologies to customers who've been offended by him. They mean nothing and he'll just do all of that again. Every day, however, I reset and none of the previous days of work matter. Clean slate that he dirties within the first hour. He's dependable and good at his job, aside from the people aspect, and he's one of four assistant managers, but I think anger management would help him. Meh. Sorry, but what you said really got to me. I even gave him a quick little how-to note about Amazon customer service because he was complaining about his Kendle and continued to freak out for nearly an hour. It would have solved his problem within 10 minutes. I've done it. He's like, "Why would you do this? I don't need this!!!!" instead of saying thank you. In my head, I'm like, "Aw, sweetpea, it's not for you!" Some people want to live in the problem. Obsessing in pain only creates more pain. Some will never learn that lesson.
He might be nervous that you're better at interacting with customers than him.
As a person who has Ben in some kind of customer service for nearly 20 years now I can tell you that is no kind of attitude to have near customers ever. I am great with customers, and it sounds like you are to. Customers can tell when someone is genuine about being chipper and they can also tell when someone is fake.
I created a RIP Barbara Bush thread if you want to post in there.Not sure where to post this anymore. Busy guy, but I have to put it somewhere! Y'all know my politics, but what you probably do not know is the great respect I have for this woman. My family has always been friendly with her family through my Mom. Flo knows everybody! Barbara was a notoriously formidable presence and always her own person. Her values of women's choice and support of people no matter whom they loved may not have been widely known on the political stage, but they were well known to all who knew her. I had the privilege of meeting her once and she was as sweet and welcoming as you'd want her to be. On another note, I would often see her hair stylist when I was a teen out in Houston's gay clubs of the mid 90's. He'd sneak me free Champagne and make sure I was okay. Of course, he answered the question people always ask him of her, "Yes, she likes her hair that way and it'll never change." That was the First Lady in everything she did. Always. The world will miss her independence and charm. She was also among the favorite First Ladies of Sesame Street.
That's rough. My advice is to do the hard thing - to put yourself out there socially and just meet people, all sorts of people, without thinking about relationships. I'm talking guys and girls. You've said that you're not a social butterfly. Few people are and you don't have to be to find more of your people out there (or your-people-adjacent). Have fun! Network. Relationships then happen more organically and happily. It's not easy at first, but it gets easier. Good places seem to be ones of common interests. Classes on things. I you like stuff like gourmet cooking, there are some of those out there. If you like art, museums often have life drawing courses and other such things. You don't even have to be good at them. That's the point. And you learn as much from the others in the group as you do from the teacher. That's the social element that makes connecting easier. The worst that could happen is that you find something - not someone - that enriches your life in a way no person could ever do. It seems like you've tried everything else. I know what it's like to be a crap magnet for bad boys. I've had my share and I've been taking some time off for a few years. No lie. Good guys seem hard to come by, but I can assure you that there are many who are right now thinking the same way you do and some of those would be a good fit. Those are my thoughts. Hang in there.
